California

Jason and I flew to California on June 19, 2007 after finding out by e-mail that Jason's best friend Nick had recently ended his life. It took everything we had to pull ourselves onto the plane knowing that Nick wouldn't be there to meet us at the airport (we had a planned vacation to see him on 6/19). We arrived in Oakland with disillusioned, heavy hearts. Despite the utter shock and dismay we felt, we managed to feel our bond with both Nick and each other, and this strengthened us while we were out there. Perhaps it was also the cliffs in Klamath, Martha's family's ranch in Philo, and the summer solstice submerging us with sunlight that assisted our resolve; nevertheless, we had a very special time and decided that this is where we want to marry next year.

Mendocino, California - Route 101
Humboldt Redwoods State Park


Avenue of the Giants, surrounded by Humboldt Redwoods State Park,
which has the largest remaining stand of virgin redwoods in the world.

Van Damme State Park, CA.

Beth and Strawberry - Outside of Klamath, CA. on Route 101


Skunk Train Bridge, Fort Bragg, CA (view to the east). For those coming
to the wedding, Information on the Skunk Train and to get tickets can be found here.
Skunk Train Bridge, Fort Bragg, CA.
(view from the east - Summer Solstice, June 21, 2007)
Klamath Beach - the whole place was ours for two days. We felt like
we had just landed on Earth.

View from our campsite


After our camping in the very north of California by Oregon, we headed down to the Highland Ranch in Philo to visit Martha, whom we originally had plans to visit, along with Nick, for a world music festival. We stayed only one day, but the day was packed, and the whole visit was renewal for us given the troubling times we'd had.

Stevie D. co-piloting Route 128 to Philo!


Beth, Jason, Martha and Tim, Highland Ranch Martha and Beth, Highland Ranch
Martha picking the pluots (I think she's munching on one too!)

What we picked for the tarts!
Martha and her cousin bringing pluots back to the kitchen for tart-making

Martha's cousin, Beth, and Martha (I think this is where I
want the wedding ceremony to be held, by these trees and swing)

Highland Ranch is a working dude ranch; thus, horseback riding was a must!
Our riding group through the ranch forest
Jason on the horse! Giddyap!

View of the lake from the oak trees and swing (where I want the
wedding ceremony held)

Martha at the lake with cattails
Tim at the lake, Highland Ranch
Inside the main house of Highland Ranch, hanging out with the Gaines family

Stevie D, guarding the cabin
Stevie D's view from our cabin at Highland Ranch

Jason and Beth outside of the main house
Martha , Beth, Jason and Tim, Highland Ranch
Ya'll can figure out by now why we want to marry here, huh? It's perfect. We felt at home, and being there made us feel closer to Nick in a wonderful way. I think he would have loved the ranch, and we missed him not being there.




After we left Highland Ranch, we popped into San Fran for the night to have dinner with Jason's good friend Dave B. and his lady, Nicole. We went to the Haight for dinner and then hung out in our hotel room for a bit. It was so nice to see familiar faces in the city - we needed to have positive memories of San Francisco, not just the sad reminders. Thanks to Bryan and Rebecca for the room at the White Swan Inn, their breakfast quiche was fabulous.


Beth, Jason, David and Nicole, San Francisco, June 2007

Beth on Geary Street, San Francisco
"Most of what we take as being important is not material, whether it's music or feelings or love. They're things we can't really see or touch. They're not material, but they're vitally important to us." ~Judy Collins